President Droupadi Murmu took to the skies in a Rafale fighter jet on October 29, 2025, at the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana, but the real headline was her post-flight pose with Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh — the very pilot Pakistan falsely claimed to have captured during India's Operation Sindoor in May. The symbolic photo-op served as a subtle yet stern rebuke to Islamabad's disinformation campaign, underscoring India's unyielding resolve.
In May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for a deadly Lashkar-e-Taiba attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Pakistani media and officials spun tales of downing Indian Rafales and capturing pilots, including Singh, a Varanasi-born Rafale ace. India swiftly debunked the propaganda, revealing Pakistan's own losses: six jets, including four F-16s and two JF-17s, as confirmed by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. A truce followed Pakistan's plea, but the lies lingered.
Singh personally guided Murmu through the Rafale during her historic sortie — the President's first in the French-origin multi-role fighter. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the formation flight, while Group Captain Amit Gehani piloted Murmu's jet. At 11:27 a.m., the aircraft soared to 15,000 feet at 700 km/h, covering 200 km in a 30-minute thrill ride. Murmu waved triumphantly before takeoff, embodying national pride.
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"The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience... instilling renewed pride in our defence capabilities," Murmu posted on X, congratulating the IAF and Ambala team. This marks her second fighter jet ride, following a Sukhoi Su-30MKI sortie in Assam in 2023.
The image of Murmu with Singh isn't just ceremonial — it's a masterstroke in strategic messaging. As India bolsters its aerial arsenal, the photo reminds adversaries: our pilots fly free, our resolve unbreakable.
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